Drug-addled pygmies, clairvoyants, ventriloquist teachers, hoodoo doctors, hoodoo charms, sea lice, cemeteries, squatters on a dildo farm and predictions of death in an eight-sided room. A Canadian groom disappearing in downtown New Orleans only to be found busking in a lemon-yellow see-through dress while wearing no underwear. Thwarting off a fellow sailor with a banjo while shipwrecked on route from Trinidad. Socking a talking lion in the jaw while mining for gold in Africa. Welcome to the world of C.W. Stoneking!
To put it in his own words, “there’s not much demand for white blues singers in New Orleans”. Tonight’s sold out show at The Corner Hotel proves otherwise here in Melbourne. Since releasing King Hokum in 2005, C.W. has set hearts alive with his distinctive sound and imaginative song writing. His wit as sharp as his fine tailoring; his music as slick as his hair. It’s a smorgasbord of blues, croon, calypso, ragtime, yodeling and stomping beats.
From Early In The Mornin’ we imagine a solemn figure kicking a tin can down an empty path. The slow, rolling train carriage of The Jungle Lullaby and Goin’ The Country; with the charismatic manner in which C.W. converses between characters. Then comes the blaring brass. He hums and hollers his way into Brave Son Of America; an ode to General McArthur that sees eruptive drumming from Ollie Brown and a groove that manages to swing hips and lift the heels off sticky carpets.
He’s the first to reference his influences; from Wilmoth Houdini to Washboard Sam and Jimmie Rogers. C.W. doesn’t pretend to be a pioneer, but he’s certainly offering nostalgia and an education to latter-day audiences; and doing it with style and class. It has to be seen to be believed.
Here is a lesson in ‘descriptive music’; painting pictures. Don’t Go Dancin Down The Darktown Strutter’s Ball is performed impeccably; beginning as a solo treat before welcoming back the stunning quartet of musicians that offer tonight’s performance its rhythm and soul. The sassy swing and sex appeal of The Love Me Or Die; ‘I studied evil/I can’t deny/Was a hoodoo charm called a Love Me or Die/Some fingernail/A piece of her dress/Apocathery/Devil’s behest’.
We applauded Dodo Blues, Handyman Blues, Rich Man’s Blues, Jungle Blues and Charles Bostock’s Blues. Indeed an absolute highlight was the comical Talkin’ Lion Blues which allowed C.W. Stoneking to pick and strum his way through a soothing and heartfelt tale involving a traveling missionary and a fertility deity faun! That’s C.W.
LOVED: Lanie Lane’s support slot. Talented, strong and grateful.
HATED: The Corner Hotel’s CCTV style projections of centre stage. Picture quality? Purpose?
DRANK: The blue one with the thylacine on it.
